The Clark County Department...
The Clark County Department of Developmental Services has 154 diesel trucks as part of its vehicle fleet. The fleet includes Fords, Chevys, and Dodges, from '02 models and up. We can only imagine how much fuel is saved by using diesels instead of gas vehicles with a fleet this large.
If you decide to open your own business, you'll most likely need a company car. In many cases, you'll need more than one. This is where diesel vehicles come into play. If you need a fleet of vehicles for a company, diesels can save a business owner a significant amount of money. Buying a diesel-powered Jetta as a get-around company vehicle could save thousands of dollars a year in fuel costs compared to a similarly sized gas-powered vehicle.
For heavier vehicles such as trucks, the difference can be even greater. A gasoline-powered tow truck, for instance, may only get 7-8 mpg, while a diesel might get 12-13 mpg. At first, you may not think that you need a fleet of vehicles for a business, but think of all the self-owned businesses that need a vehicle fleet: construction companies, landscapers, shuttling services, taxis, document shredding companies, catering services, plumbers, the list goes on and on. Some companies are so huge that their savings from using diesel vehicles measures in millions of dollars per year. FedEx, UPS, and the U.S. Postal service all rely on diesels to transport mail and packages. Heck, school districts have relied on diesels to power their big yellow buses for years.
The building in the background...
The building in the background is used to maintain and fuel Clark County's vehicle fleet. With a fleet that large, it is the only viable option.
So what type of fleet vehicle will you need? Well, that depends on your business. Many companies that rely on vans for transport could probably get away with a Chevy or Ford full-size diesel, or a Dodge Sprinter van. If you need space but aren't carrying anything heavy, you could try a Volkswagen TDI wagon. Construction companies most likely won't be loading lumber into a mini-van and instead will opt for a 1-ton truck. The point here is not only can you make money with diesels, but that you can actually SAVE money even if you already run an existing business. If that isn't an incentive for being diesel-powered, we don't know what is.
Diesel vs. Gas So with rising fuel prices (diesel especially), does it still make sense to own a compression ignition fleet vehicle? You bet! Diesels still have superior reliability, which is very important in a vehicle that will be used to make money. They can also tow more, and will have better resale value when it is time to retire them. Diesels still hold a fuel economy advantage, but that advantage has lessened due to strict new emissions and rising diesel fuel costs (Remember when it was cheaper than gas?). If you're looking for good fuel economy in your diesel, we'd suggest you buy pre-2006, or wait for the new diesel 1/2-tons to come out.
Many emergency medical companies...
Many emergency medical companies use fleet vehicles, as do insurance companies like State Farm.
Buying And Owning A Fleet Vehicle When it comes to buying a fleet of vehicles, remember, reliability is the key. You don't need a DVD player and seven-way adjustable seats to haul concrete or do landscaping, so unless you're running a fleet of diesel limos, skip the frills. Also, buying more than one vehicle may get you better pricing than the general public, and there may even be a tax break for your business if you own a fleet.
Since you will have more than one vehicle that needs to be serviced, you may also be able to work out a deal with a local service shop for a price break, or hire an in-house mechanic to service them yourself. Remember to take good care of your fleet, it's making you money!